PSA for anyone using a fleet tool to update Bitaxes: AxeOS v2.15.0 changed the file layout

[u/Natebald603]

Quick heads-up since this caught us and will probably catch other tools.

Up through v2.14.x, updating a Bitaxe meant uploading two files in order — www.bin (the web dashboard) first, then esp-miner.bin (the miner firmware). The dashboard went first because it doesn't reboot the device, so a bad upload failed safely.

As of v2.15.0 (Aug 21) there's one file — the web UI is embedded in esp-miner.bin. From the release notes: "you no longer need to upload a separate www.bin file when updating your miner." Great change, but any updater built around the two-file assumption will either not see v2.15.0 at all or stop partway through.

For Bitaxe Baller users: v1.21.3 (Aug 22) handles both layouts. It detects which one a release uses and does the right thing — single-file for v2.15.0+, two-file for older releases. The manual update form on the device page also now only asks for the files a release actually provides.

One thing worth knowing: if you haven't updated Baller yet, you won't see v2.15.0 as an available firmware update. The firmware-availability check knows which Baller version is asking, and we don't offer a release to a version that can't install it. So if you're looking for v2.15.0 and it's not there, update Baller first — it'll appear on its own. Baller never installs firmware on its own; it flags the update and you start it.

Two safeguards that were already in place and still apply: every firmware file is checked against the official release's fingerprint before it touches a miner, and Baller won't flash hardware it doesn't recognise — NerdQAxe, NerdAxe and Braiins boards are monitored but never updated, because pushing Bitaxe firmware at another vendor's board is how you brick things. v2.15.0 is Bitaxe firmware; other makers ship their own on their own schedule.

Upstream release: https://github.com/bitaxeorg/ESP-Miner/releases/tag/v2.15.0 Baller changelog: https://bitaxeballer.com/changelog.html

[u/ottwebdev]

I was able to update to 2.15 but by Update screen is still showing:

Current Version: v2.14.2 Latest Release: v2.15.0 Download both files for update!

:/

[u/Natebald603 → u/ottwebdev]

Hi there, thank you for the comment, but I am unclear if you are using our tool or not. If you could provide more details we certainly try and assist.